What is the difference between heating the jacket of a reactor with heat transfer oil and with steam?
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What is the difference between heating the jacket of a reactor with heat transfer oil and with steam?
There’s no big difference. The calorific value is different, and heat transfer oil is more stable with hardly any fluctuations. Under the same temperature conditions, for example 240 degrees, steam may require a pressure of 6 Mpa; such high pressure leads to higher costs. With heat transfer oil, however, you still need equipment, so a comprehensive evaluation is necessary
Steam below 130 degrees heats up quickly, but it is difficult to achieve heating slowly over a long period of time; heat transfer oil above 130 degrees is stable and cost-effective, as high steam pressure results in higher equipment costs
For high temperatures, such as above 250 degrees, heat transfer oil is used, while steam is employed for low temperatures.
This specifically requires considering the medium being heated as well as the conditions in the production workshop in order to calculate the costs of both
Heat transfer oil can be heated to 200 degrees or higher without requiring much pressure； When steam is heated to 200 degrees, the pressure is very high; therefore, the jacket must be able to withstand such pressure. Low-pressure steam can generally be used for the jacket, while medium-pressure steam is usually not suitable
The heat transfer oil is stable, and the operation is stable as well
Temperature, pressure. If the temperature is high, it is best to use heat transfer oil.
Over time, heat transfer oil can develop scale; it is necessary to cut away and clean the scale in the jacket after approximately 6 to 8 years. In severe cases, the jacket needs to be replaced. If the equipment experiences local deformation or if the temperature parameters at its inlet and outlet do not change, it is advisable to clean the equipment or have it repaired.
The operating conditions for water vapor are quite demanding; a heat transfer oil is recommended when the temperature exceeds 150°C. The design pressure is relatively low compared to that of water vapor, and water vapor can have a significant impact on the production process due to its effect on pipeline pressures.